With how fast technology and styles change each year, it’s important for creative designers to stay current with the latest trends in their industry. Trends in 2021 included the use of dynamic typography and type layering, but what is expected for 2022? This article will cover the most anticipated typography trends for 2022, so creative professionals can be up-to-date and gain inspiration for their work in the upcoming year.
If you are considering a career change into a creative role like graphic design, there is no better time than now to start the process. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates the job outlook for graphic designers to grow by 3% each year through 2030, which equates to around 23,900 openings annually. With the vast career opportunities and niche areas, it’s crucial that creative designers stay up to date with trends in their field.
Animated Typography
One trend anticipated for 2022 is the use of animated typography to create an engaging and interactive experience for the audience. There are virtually no limitations when it comes to incorporating animated text into a design, as long as it remains legible and easy to interpret. It’s important for designers to consider the speed of the text and how they will apply the animation with actions such as scrolling text or hovering effects.
Retro-Inspired Fonts
While trends may seem as though they would be new and exciting each year, the truth is these techniques and styles continuously build off of those from the past. Typography with retro inspiration will dominate design styles through 2022, with text curves reminiscent of the 1970s and text featuring bold shadows, outlines, and colors. Taking inspiration from past eras adds a touch of nostalgia to a design while still influencing future trends.
Experimental Styles
Typography trends are expected to branch out from the norm and embrace experimental styles this year. There are virtually no limitations when it comes to experimenting with different fonts, shapes, or colors, as long as the text stays easy to read. Each decision with experimental type is up to the designer and will depend on their unique style and overall goals for the content. Adding shadows to text and deliberate obscuring are some of the most anticipated text trends for the year.
Handwriting Typeface
While classic fonts can feel comfortable for both designers and their audience, the use of authentic handwriting typefaces has continued to grow in popularity over the past years. Often the most popular among Graphic Designers and Web Designers, this type of text has a touch of personality and style that some feel classic font options lack. 2022 will see handwriting typefaces with a realistic approach, meaning a “messier” style and added embellishments or accents for a unique touch.
Highlights and Bold Colors
Typography trends in past years had a focus on minimalist styles with thin lines and basic designs, but 2022 will bring in bold, psychedelic colors and the use of highlights. Using bright and bold colors is an excellent way to grab a viewer’s attention and create an uplifting design. It’s also anticipated that highlighted type will be popular among designers, with highlights separating lettering from the background and animated highlights being the most prominent.
Gradients
Another typography trend that has taken over the design scene is the use of color gradients. Popular brands such as Instagram and Firefox use a color gradient within their branding materials to catch a user’s attention and enhance the design. Gradients are visually stunning and can add emphasis where a designer feels it fits best. Adobe Color CC is a great tool for experimenting with different color themes.
Outlined Text
Designers should expect to see the use of outlined text grow through 2022, especially in web design and graphic design. It can be challenging to use outlined font options due to issues with readability and overemphasis, which is why designers should focus on color, contrast, and placement with this type of text. It can bring an incredible amount of emphasis and impact to the design when used correctly.
Rounded Edges
While some designers avoided rounded types in past years, these bold and dynamic fonts are expected to grow in popularity this year. This type of text was often reserved for specific types of designs, such as children’s content, but rounded edges are now being used for countless different design types. Fonts with rounded edges can take on an animated appearance, which has helped them to stand out from more standard options. Designers should experiment with different rounded edge fonts to see how they can incorporate them into their work.
Minimalism
As stated above, minimalism has been a prominent trend in the design field for several years. While bold colors and type are expected in 2022, this doesn’t mean that all influence of minimalist style is obsolete. Many experts still anticipate elements of this specific style to shine through this year in certain types of design projects. This will depend on the designer and whether a minimalist text works with their goals.
With how fast trends change throughout the year, it’s important for any creative professional to try and remain current with any practices in the industry. If you are looking for a way to stay up to date with all the latest typography trends or want to jump-start a new career in graphic design, signing up for graphic design classes can help to provide immersive training in the field.
There are also live online graphic design bootcamps from reliable providers like Noble Desktop that have an in-depth curriculum that matches those found in traditional courses. These bootcamp classes can be taken virtually and are an excellent training option for those who are new to the field and want to make a career change. If you need a flexible class schedule and want to eliminate the need to commute through heavy traffic, live online courses may be an excellent option. If you are ready to see what options are available for you, try searching for graphic design bootcamps in your area.